NEWS & NOTES Cruise ships calling on Nawiliwili Today, Sunday, Nov. 27, the Island Princess arrives at Nawiliwili Harbor at 8 a.m., leaving at 6 p.m. the same day. Tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 28, the Pride of Aloha, 850 feet long,
NEWS & NOTES
Cruise ships calling on Nawiliwili
- Today, Sunday, Nov. 27, the Island Princess arrives at Nawiliwili Harbor at 8 a.m., leaving at 6 p.m. the same day. Tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 28, the Pride of Aloha, 850 feet long, calls on Nawiliwili Harbor, arriving at 7 a.m. and departing Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. This Wednesday, Nov. 30, the Norwegian Wind arrives at 8 a.m., and departs the same day at 5 p.m.
Kaua’i Visitors Bureau Annual Membership Luncheon set
- Friday, Dec. 9 is the date of the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau Annual Membership Luncheon, at the Kaua’i Marriott Resort & Beach Club, with registration at 11:30 a.m., and lunch and the program at noon. The program includes a recap of advertising and public relations actions in calendar 2005, highlights of the calendar 2006 marketing plan, and guest speaker, Judy Drosd, former Kaua’i film commissioner and now with the state arts, film and entertainment office. The charge is $30 per person, and the reservations deadline is this Thursday, Dec. 1, at 4:30 p.m. Please call the KVB office, 245-3971, for reservations and more information.
Kennett appointed to Employers Council board
- E. Alan Kennett, president of Gay & Robinson, Inc. sugar company, was recently appointed to a vacant board position on the Hawaii Employers Council (HEC). At the HEC’s 62nd Annual Meeting on O’ahu, Wayne Katayama, president of Kilauea Agronomics, LLC., was re-elected to the board of governors, for a term ending Dec. 31, 2008. An organizational meeting of members of the new board of governors will take place in January on O’ahu. HEC provides professional services to managers in human resources, labor relations, employment law, research, and business-education programs. Founded in 1943, the Hawaii Employers Council is a non-profit organization with over 800 member companies. Members of the council are committed to assisting members in maintaining positive employeremployee relations.
Hawaii Air Ambulance gets more accolades
- Leaders of Hawaii Air Ambulance, Inc. recently welcomed a resolution from state House of Representatives Speaker of the House Calvin Say, highlighting the role of aero medical service for the state. Under the leadership of Hawaii Air Ambulance Chief Executive Officer Andrew Kluger, a study by officials at Hawaii Air Ambulance, Inc. recently evaluated and addressed this type of emergency medical service in the state.
“With our island geography, it is imperative that we make sure we maintain and advance the role of aero medical service,” Kluger said. “For many of the residents in Hawai’i, this is the only way they can receive the medical care they need.”
Hawaii Air Ambulance is Hawai’i’s only fixed-wing, aero-medical provider, providing emergency interisland transport of patients with a fleet of five aircraft flying to all the populated islands except Ni’ihau. Pilots and members of crews have been flying between the islands for 27 years. Please see the Web site, http://hiairamb.com, for more information.
HMSA costs up in third quarter
- Leaders at the Hawaii Medical Service Association recently reported third-quarter healthcare costs were up 7.8 percent compared to the same period last year. Net income was $6.4 million after taxes, or 1.46 of dues revenue, compared to $10.44 million the year before, a reduction in net income of 38.7 percent. Third-quarter revenue was $439.29 million, and benefit expenses were $405.3 million, with administrative expenses at $33.21 million, compared to $410.65 million in revenue in last year’s third quarter, $375.94 million in benefit expenses, and $30.49 million in administrative expenses.
On average, HMSA leaders paid physicians, hospitals and other providers over $135 million per month during the third quarter of 2005, nearly $10 million per month more than the same period last year. “Hospital services drove healthcare costs higher in the third quarter,” said Steve Van Ribbink, HMSA executive vice president and chief financial officer. “In 2005, healthcare costs rose 7.60 percent in the first quarter, 9.10 percent the second, and 7.80 percent in the third. If this trend continues, we will be forced to look at higher health-plan rates in 2006,” he said.
First Hawaiian Bank wins award
- Leaders at First Hawaiian Bank accepted the State Commission on Fatherhood Hawaii Outstanding Parent-Friendly Business Award in the Large Business category. First Hawaiian Bank human-resources professionals give employees access to information and referrals to community resources, supportive child-care options, flexible work and lunch hours, as well as paid time off to address children’s health concerns. Members of the state Legislature presented awards to other Outstanding Advocates for Children and Youth on O’ahu recently. The awards program was established by members of the state Legislature to recognize individuals and leaders of organizations who show commitment and efforts to protect and promote the state’s children.
Luggage pickup available in Orange County
- Customers departing on Aloha Airlines flights from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif., can skip the hassle of lugging bags to the airport by letting workers from BaggageDirect do it, officials at Aloha Airlines said.
Travelers on Aloha can now arrange for BaggageDirect’s mobile skycaps to collect their luggage from their hotel, home or business, within 50 miles of John Wayne Airport, for a fee. The pick-up will take place at an assigned time on the day before or day of the scheduled flight, depending on the scheduled time of departure.
Under federal Transportation Security Administration-approved guidelines, Baggage-Direct workers will issue baggage-claim checks and boarding passes for each passenger right on the spot. All the customer needs to do is show up at the airport and get to the boarding gate on time, Aloha officials said. Bags tendered to Baggage-Direct in Orange County or on the islands of O’ahu and Maui can be picked up at the traveler’s destination airport.
“Aloha is pleased to be first to offer BaggageDirect service for passengers using John Wayne Airport, expanding on the convenience we already offer our customers on Oahu and Maui,” said Thom Nulty, Aloha’s senior vice president of marketing and sales.
Hanie, Ho’omanawanui named at Dollar, Thrifty
- Jessica “Kaehu” Hanie has been named city operations manager at Thrifty Car Rental on Kaua’i, and Melveen Ho’omanawanui has been named city operations manager at Dollar Rent A Car, announced officials at Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: DTG). Hanie joined Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group in 2003 as station manager for Dollar Rent A Car on Kaua’i. She also served as lead rental sales agent at Dollar Rent A Car prior to moving to Thrifty. Ho’omanawanui joined Dollar Rent A Car on Kaua’i in 1996 as a rental sales agent. She was promoted to station manager in 1999, and senior station manager in 2003, before taking the position of city operations manager.
The promotions were announced by Jim Bowen, Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group vice president of operations, Pacific region. Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. is a Fortune 1000 company with headquarters in Tulsa, Okla. Driven by the mission “Value Every Time,” the company’s brands, Dollar Rent A Car and Thrifty Car Rental, serve value-conscious travelers in approximately 70 countries.
Dollar and Thrifty have approximately 800 corporate and franchised locations in the United States and Canada, and operations at most major airports. The company’s more than 8,000 employees are located mainly in North America, but global-service capabilities exist through an expanding international franchise network. For additional information, please visit http://www.dtag.com.
Nonaka joins A&B in Honolulu
- Aileen H. Nonaka has joined the human-resources department of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALEX) as director, compensation and benefits, reporting to A&B Vice President Ruthann S. Yamanaka. She will succeed Ramona Sayre, who retires in April of next year following an 11-year career with A&B. Nonaka will be responsible for the development, implementation and administration of A&B’s compensation and benefit programs for non-bargaining employees. “A&B’s compensation and benefits program has been well-served under Ramona’s leadership and direction,” said Yamanaka. “Over the next several months, Ramona will transition her responsibilities to Aileen, who has more than 20 years of experience in employee-benefits and human-resources management.”
Nonaka comes to A&B from Hawaiian Airlines, where she was senior director, benefits and compensation. During her 10 years with Hawaiian Airlines, she managed the administration of 55 employee-benefits and compensation programs for over 3,400 non-contract and union employees. Prior to that, Nonaka was employed with AMFAC/JMB Hawaii, Inc., Johnson & Higgins/Foster Higgins, and GECC Financial. Nonaka earned her bachelor’s degree in personnel industrial relations from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, and is a graduate of Kalani High School. She has completed eight of 10 Certified Employee Benefits Specialist exams, and is a member of the Society of Human Resource Managers.
Chamber business directory coming soon
- All those interested in advertising in the 2006 Kaua’i Chamber of Commerce Community Guide & Business Directory, and community map, should contact Sue Finley of IBA Publishing, toll-free at 1-877-872-1063. Those interested in purchasing the guide or map should call the chamber office, 245-7363.
